…622 Terrorists Surrendered
Tom Zaneni, Abuja
The Nigerian military authorities said on Friday that gallant federal troops arrested 204 suspected terrorists and other criminal elements within one week.
Troops also during the week killed 108 terrorists and rescued 214 abducted hostages across the country, a statement issued by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, said on Friday in Abuja.
According to him, a total of 622 terrorists comprising 90 adult males 182 adult females and 350 children surrendered to troops during the week within the theatre of operations.
He said that 66 assorted weapons and 4,087 assorted ammunition, comprising one Dushku, one MG, two GPMGs, one RPG launcher, one RPG bomb, one AK56 rifle and 37 AK47 rifles were recovered.
Buba said the troops also recovered four MRAPs, two GTs, three fabricated rifles, six Dane guns, three locally made pistols, six magazines, one bandolier and two HH radios.
He listed other recovered weapons as 313 rounds of 7.62mm PKT, 2,362 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 699 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 201 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm and 503 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm.
Buba said, “Also recovered are nine live cartridges, one belted of NATO ammo, 19 vehicles, 44 motorcycles, three mobile phones and the sum of N4.9 million amongst other items.”
He further disclosed that in the North East, the troops attached to Operation Hadin Kai neutralised 47 terrorists, arrested 18 suspects and rescued 130 kidnappers’ hostages as well as recovery of cache of arms.
Buba added that the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai had on August 2 conducted an air interdiction at a newly uncovered BH/ISWAP terrorist’s hideout and IED factory in the Mandara Mountains.
He said the location was acquired and attacked with rockets and bombs.
“Battle Damage Assessment revealed that several terrorists were eliminated and the IED factory as well as their logistics destroyed”, he said.
Buba said that in the North Central, the troops attached to Operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stroke neutralised 13 insurgents, apprehended 57 violent extremists and rescued 36 kidnapped hostages.
He noted that under Operation Whirl Punch, the troops neutralised eight terrorists, arrested 22 suspects and rescued 12 kidnapped hostages in Kaduna, Niger and Kogi States.
He said the air component eliminated several terrorists and destroyed the camp of a terrorists’ kingpin, Buhari, in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Buba also said that in the South-South, the troops attached to Operation Delta Safe recovered 1.13 million litres of stolen crude oil, and 228,770 litres of illegally refined AGO, as well as 100 litres of DPK and 20,000 litres of PMS.
He further said the troops also discovered and destroyed 487 dugout pits, 32 boats and 12 storage tanks as well as 71 cooking ovens, two speedboats, two pumping machines, and two HH radios.
Troops, Buba noted, also recovered 19 vehicles, 32 motorcycles, one tricycle, one wheelbarrow and destroyed 76 illegal refining sites.
He said troops rescued five kidnapped hostages and apprehended 32 suspected oil thieves and other violent extremists, as well as also recovered 11 assorted weapons.
The defence media operations director said in the South East, the troops attached to Operation UDO KA neutralised five terrorists, arrested 12 violent extremists and rescued four kidnapped hostages.
Buba added “All recovered items, arrested suspects and rescued hostages were handed over to the relevant authority for further action.”
